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Congo’s contribution to a safer world recognized by INTERPOL Chief as Africa tour concludes

Landmark mission to Republic of Congo marks 160th member country visited by Secretary General

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo – In an address to high-ranking government and law enforcement officials in the Republic of Congo, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said the world police body could rely on the country’s contribution towards a safer world.

Speaking at the Interior Ministry in Brazzaville, Mr Noble highlighted the Republic of Congo as the highest user of INTERPOL’s database of stolen and lost motor vehicles, and the second highest overall user of the three main databases - nominal, stolen motor vehicles and stolen and lost travel documents - amongst the Central African countries, as an example of its commitment to national, regional and global security.

With the Republic of Congo currently holding the Presidency of the Communauté Économique et Monétaire des Etats d’AFrique Centrale (CEMAC), the INTERPOL Chief said he was confident that plans for extending access to INTERPOL’s tools and services to key border points across CEMAC’s six member countries would soon be implemented.

“The Republic of Congo has long recognized that international police cooperation is key in effectively combating transnational crime,” said Secretary General Noble who also met with Charles Richard Mondjo, Minister at the Presidency for Defense, Jean Dominique Okemba, Special Advisor to the President and Secretary General of the National Security Council and Jean François Ndengue, Director General of Police ,in addition to visiting staff at the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Brazzaville.

“It is through its systematic use of INTERPOL’s databases, its recognition of the INTERPOL Travel Document, and its willingness to share and benefit from the expertise of other countries, that the Republic of Congo’s shows its commitment to global law enforcement, the safety of its own citizens and international security,” added the INTERPOL Chief.

Mr Noble pointed to the recent deployment of an INTERPOL Incident Response Team to Brazzaville in November 2012 following the crash of a cargo plane near Maya-Maya International airport with the loss of 27 lives, and previously in 2011 following a plane crash which killed 23 people, to assist and advise the Scientific Police of the Congo, as examples of such cooperation.

“Thanks to Republic of Congo’s recognition of the INTERPOL Travel Document, when our assistance was requested, INTERPOL was able to deploy a team to Brazzaville without any of the unnecessary delays which could have serious consequences when time is of the essence in responding to a major incident,” said the INTERPOL Chief.

The Secretary General’s first-time visits to Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo during his mission to Africa (4-9 February) enabled the head of the world policing body to speak directly with those responsible for enforcing the law and to identify where greater support can be provided by INTERPOL to its National Central Bureaus.

Mr Noble’s mission throughout the region brought to 160 the total number of countries visited since he became INTERPOL Secretary General in 2000, the highest number for any head of international organization or agency.